Greenville Sprint Triathlon 2010

Total Time = 1h 12m 32s

Overall Rank = 36/225

Age Group Rank = 3/25

Pre-race routine:Woke up at 5am, coffee, bagel w/P.B. G2. Enjoyed a leisurely early morning at home! I love racing locally!

Event warmup:Spent 10 minutes on the bike, ran 5 minutes, 300M swim. Felt really good at race time!

Swim
Started by two's. Wanted to catch Brad in front of me so I could draft him through. Caught him after the turn at 50M and rode his feet until about 175 where he seemed to slow down. I took him at the 200 wall and pushed to the end. Dropped 32 seconds from last year.

T1
Had a little trouble mounting and lost about :05.

Bike
I had a pretty good bike with no real trouble with H.R. or fatigue. Felt good throughout but still need to get some strength so I can push the pedals harder! I was 8 seconds slower than '09, dang it!

T2
Comments:Good T2

Run
A pretty good run for this course. I was really looking to be a little faster but still had a pretty good run. The trail portion was a bit muddy and slippery along with the craters and rocks. Those conditions change things a little.

Love this race! It's always good to see all the Upstate Tri Club folks at Greenville! This was the 5 year anniversary of my first race and felt really good to place 3rd A.G.!

Greenville Sprint Triathlon

Greenville Triathlon2009
Total Time = 1h 13m 25s
Overall Rank = 59/345
Age Group = 40-44
Age Group Rank = 9/40

Pre-race routine:Had a pretty tough week of training gearing up for the SC 1/2 and didn't really have any expectations for this race. I was hoping to equal last year's 1:15 but would have been o.k. with missing it a little based on how sore and stiff I felt.

Event warmup:Short 1/2 mile run with strides. 200M swim.

Swim
Comments:Not a great swim. :03 slower than '08 but with a slight shoulder injury. I put in a slower swim time due to the injury thinking I'd have more trouble than I did...big mistake! I passed about 12 people in the first 100! CRAZY! I had to go between 2 big women and hope I didn't offend anyone with a stray elbow or foot! I was as aggressive as I could be trying to make up for the lower start time.
00:07:29 437.45001 yards 01m 43s / 100yards Age Group:10/40Overall:80/345

What would you do differently?:NOT CHANGE MY SWIM TIME!

T1
Comments:Good Transition. Fumbled a little with my right shoe but good otherwise.

Bike
Comments:This was a good bike for me. My computer completely went out and I was just going on feel. I knew I would have to push all the way through in order to equal last year's time. I passed a few people I didn't expect to pass!
Biking 00:42:27 15 miles 21.20 mile/hr Age Group:14/40Overall:83/345

T2
Comments:Good T2. LOVE HEARING MY FAMILY CHEER ME ON!!!

Run
Comments:Good run for me. I really don't like this course at all! The trail portion was rough with the racing flats but relatively short so no big deal. When I hit the half way mark, I could tell I had a good run going. The first mile was a bit labored but by the time I his 1.5 I was in a good rhythm and tried to open my stride a little and maintain tempo. I was all out for the entire run and had nothing left to push through the finish shoot. Felt very good.
Running 00:21:47 03.1099999 miles 07m min/mile Age Group:8/40Overall:607/345

Event comments:Still my favorite! Lots of local friends makes this race a lot of fun!!! SetUp Events ROCKS!

Perceived effort: The new scientific measure?

By Melanie McQuaid

Feb. 21, 2007 -- I was lucky enough to take part in some physiological testing during my last training camp in California. As part of the Floyd Landis Powertap training camp, Alan Lim conducted step tests to determine lactate threshold for all the campers. I normally do four of these tests per year, with one in the early stages of my base/preparation phase. At this time, it is important for me to see my yearly starting point. I always look at test results as a relative measure rather than an absolute indicator. Just as you can have good and bad days racing, so too can your tests vary according to how you feel. Never beat yourself up about test results . . . there is something called competition that truly measures individual ability. Only races will really indicate your true athletic potential.Alan measured an interesting marker during this year's test. In addition to watts, heart rate and lactate values, Alan measured perceived effort and graphed all of the numbers together. Perceived effort was first quantified by a man named Gunnar Borg. He created a 15-point 6-20 scale to produce estimates of exertion. This scale has also been adapted to the CR10 Scale as follows:

0 Nothing at all
0.5 Extremely easy
1.0 Very easy
2.0 Easy
3.0 Moderate
4.0 Somewhat hard
5.0 Hard
6.0
7.0 Very hard
8.0
9.0
10.0 Extremely hard (maximal)

California researchers studied the Borg scale to establish whether this scale was valid as a measure of exercise intensity. By comparing RPE scores with physiological data (heart rate, lactate concentration, percentage of VO2 max, ventilation and respiratory rates), they were able to determine whether perceived exertion was comparable with measured exertion.In general, their findings were that there is a definite correlation between perceived effort and actual exertion. There was a linear correlation between heart rate and VO2 as exercise intensity increased and a high correlation between other measures, such as lactate values. In general, the more highly trained an athlete, the stronger the correlation. This makes sense, as a highly trained athlete would be more in tune with his or her limits. There were some inconsistencies, however, as male cyclists had closer correlation than females or athletes from other sports. Therefore, some variables will affect how closely perceived effort will follow a lactate curve.This does mean, however, that training by feel can be a useful metric for athletes, especially those new to triathlon. Many of us had a beginning where heart-rate monitors and power-measuring devices were not part of our programs, so we learned to train hard and easy. With so many useful devices, some athletes can become a slave to numbers and forget that the point is to push yourself to your limits -- not to try to hold onto a number.Although I measure a performance objectively using heart-rate and power data, I choose to ignore my measuring devices while I am competing. I perform based on feel and measure the actual performance using numbers. If you try to perform using only numbers on race day you may over or underestimate your potential on a given day. Better to just toe the start line with a race strategy and dig as deep as you can.So try to gauge your RPE. You may be amazed at how well you can estimate the effort corresponding to your lactate threshold. It is that sort-of-hard zone. Scientific stuff.

Based in Victoria, Canada, Melanie McQuaid is a three-time defending XTERRA world champion. For more information about McQuaid, please visit www.racergirl.com.

Democrats: A Party of Thugs

INTERESTING FACTS ----- NOTICE LINK AND MAP AT BOTTOMSome unreported stats about the 2008 election.

Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2008 Presidential election:-

-Number of States won by: Democrats: 20; Republicans: 30
-Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000; Republicans: 2,427,000
-Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million; Republicans: 143million
-Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2;Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republicans won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in rented or government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the“governmental dependency" phase.

*******************************Notice that only in the states of Alaska and Oklahoma : All counties werewon by McCain/Palin. The original posting with this information is below this Newsweek article at his link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/163337.

Why I Can't Vote For Obama - Huntley Brown

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him. Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go on is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007. < http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/ " href="http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/%3e" target=_blank> NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court. There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito.
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue.
The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps. (Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse.
The dead baby is then removed.

God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.
Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why, now? Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?

Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a 1. Commitment to the White Community 2. Commitment to the White Family 3.Adherence to the White Work Ethic 4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community. 5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions 6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System 7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System. Would you support a President who went to a church like that? Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside. This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world. A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this? So what does all this mean for the nation?

In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment. Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 'Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.' Then God says 1 Samuel 1:18 ' When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.' 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.' 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a king.'

Here is what we know for sure. God is not schizophrenic. He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God. Maybe I am the one not hearing, but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation, 1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation?
2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings,
Huntley Brown

Take Flight Triathlon Results

Take Flight Triathlon 20082008-10-18
Huntersville, North Carolina

Triathlon - Sprint
Total Time = 1h 02m 11s
Overall Rank = 39/272
Age Group Rank = 6/40 Age Group = 40-44

Pre-race routine:Went to a birthday party on Friday night and got in about 10:30. Got to bed about 11p, up at 4:15 and out at 4:45 headed to Huntersville, NC! Got to the race site about 6:40, picked up packet, set up transition, body mark. Ate Nutri-Grain bar at 7:15 and drank some Gatorade.

Event warmup:Went for a very cold spin and run about 7:45 and headed to the pool about 7:55 for a short swim.

Swim 00:03:56 Age Group:4/40 Overall:32/272
Passed 5 people! I was disappointed to be starting at 100 but it was all good. I didn't have any trouble passing.

T1 Time:01:14
Comments:Very cold! The wind was blowing and it was chilly-willy! I had to put on sleeves and that added an extra :20 or so.

Bike 00:32:20 10 miles 18.56 mile/hr Age Group:10/40 Overall:59/272
Comments:The bike continues to be my weakest link. I felt like I was working pretty hard just to keep the pace going. I need to continue to work on improving on the bike.
What would you do differently?:More training.

T2 Time:01:02
Comments:As soon as I racked the bike and got my bike shoes off, my left calf cramped like never before! I was totally caught off guard since I typically don't have to deal with cramps. I started to head out of transition and had to stop to stretch it out. THAT was very painful.

Run 00:23:41 07m 37s min/mile Age Group:10/40 Overall:57/272
Comments:I am a bit disappointed with this 5K time since I've been working most on improving my run this season. The cramp in the calf certainly didn't help any but it all worked out O.K. I was shooting for a 22:30 or better. I was happy to see Bobby Paton several times!

Post race
Warm down:Stretched the calf and headed for the massage table.
What limited your ability to perform faster:COLD!

Event comments:What a great event for a great cause! Benji and SetUp did an awesome job on this race!

Take Flight Triathlon/Garrett's Wings

Timing is everything, right? Here we are at the brink of an economic crisis in America and there are people out there soliciting donations for this cause and that cause…where does it ever end? Well, as a parent, an economic crisis means absolutely nothing if one of my children is diagnosed with cancer. I can’t imagine being faced with the kind of ordeal that Infantile NCL causes a family…much less a family that doesn’t have the means to offer comfort to a child facing this fatal disease.

Initially I signed up for this triathlon so that I could see some friends and enjoy the competition associated with any race like this. After registering for the event I found out that it’s actually a fund raising event named for a little boy that lost his life to Infantile NCL last December. His family managed to make ends meet with the help of friends and the community. Garrett Davis Campbell has inspired me through his short life to help others in need. Please consider making a donation by following the link below. Your donations could help find a cure for Infantile NCL. In the meantime, they can help support families facing this tragic disease right now.


http://www.active.com/donate/take_flight_tri/ericmitchell